The Talak Pledge

Early Marriage

At first my mom and dad just invited me to dinner with a new colleague from Dubai. I heard he came with his new wife and stepson.

In my house is now very busy the servants who passed by and put on a lot of menus to welcome the papa guest. There is little question why papa and mama are so bothered if they only welcome colleagues and not as usual.

Until the promised time comes. A tall man holding a graceful woman wearing a large black headscarf but the luxury did not come off there.

Behind him a sweet-faced young girl in a navy-coated dress is very charming.

"This is my son, Jean." As the man said. The girl I just knew named Jean seemed to smile at the dimple next to her cheek.

Lots of chatter from tonight's meeting. Jean's stepfather whom she called Abi was indeed very friendly. She told me many things about her family life including her meeting with Jean's mother.

"Jean has just graduated with a major in Cinematography. The picture is so good." As the man said. "Actually we were eager to take her to Dubai, but she chose to build her career as a photographer."

I occasionally glanced at Jean who seemed to be checking her phone. The girl was indeed very sweet with her smile that incessantly expanded in every conversation.

***

"How's Jean? Beautiful isn't?" This morning my mom came up to me who was still busy preparing files to go to work. Right now papa is preparing me to continue his company so that makes me so busy to just spend time with friends.

"Pretty." Answer's short. It was beautiful, but still it could not make me forget Fira, a girl who had filled the recesses of my heart for almost three years. Since the dinner banquet a week ago every day mama would ask the same thing and then leave.

"His father and brother Jean agreed to match you." I was caught hearing Mom's words just now. "Let's just say this is your way to move on from your ex-boyfriend."

I just grunt annoyed at what my mom said about my ex-boyfriend who I still call so often today without his knowledge. Mama really hates him so much that inevitably I have to hide my feelings are still the same for the girl.

"Ma." I looked at the middle-aged woman who was smiling at me. "Why not ask for my response first?"

"Who do you want to marry? Just accept it. Jean's a nice, friendly girl." After saying that, my mother left my room and I followed her.

"Ma, but why so suddenly? Because I don't even know him." Very calmly mom opened her phone and busied herself on her screen. Until a message notification appeared on my screen.

"That's Jean's number. Please Mr. Segara make an approach.".

Since the conversation this morning, my concentration has been a little disturbed. How can you marry an unknown girl even in conditions that are still very difficult to forget the past. Staring at my phone many times with the screen still showing Jean's contact. Should I see him this time?

"Hallo, with Abhimanyu Segara?" The voice across after my phone rings. "I'm Morgan, can you take the time to meet?"

"Do we know each other?" I don't remember knowing that name. He wasn't even on my phone's contact list, so where did he know my number?.

"I'll introduce myself later. It has to do with your matchmaking plan." There was no other choice but to agree to her request because I was also curious as to who she really was. Finally we agreed to meet later in the afternoon at a cafe not far from my office.

*

"I hear you're going to be betrothed to Jean?" Smile expands. "That's what I heard from Jean's mother."

"Did Jean's mother have said much to you?" I chose to answer him nonformally, he shook his head slowly.

"More accurately remind." He sighed deeply, then took out a small red wooden box with Chinese lettering engraving. "This is an engraving of the Mandarin Aurora, Jean's full name which also means sunshine." I pulled the little thing and opened it.

"A key?" Still can't digest the point, whether it's important to give me a key whose contents also definitely don't matter to me.

"The two of us have been together for almost 7 years. Jean is such a fun girl and I'm sure you'll be happily married to her." Now I know, she's Jean's boyfriend.

"Why don't you marry her instead of letting her marry someone else."

"If Jean would." He laughed to himself. I looked at him sharply because this conversation was getting less and less able to make me understand. "Yes, I did hold feelings for a long time but it was impossible to marry a Jean who held so much faith and so did I."

"Oh Love is different belief." This young man was still looking down to show a white necklace seemed to be made of gold with a pendulum marked with a cross.

"I'll be going to college in Sidney next month. And I hope you give this box to her later as a wedding gift."

"Why is it that easy to let go of your lover for someone else?" I'm still wondering why she's so calm about meeting her lover's future husband. But the man named Morgan only responded with a smile and said goodbye to leave.

After much courage I finally decided to call Jean.

"Can we meet now?" I asked, I should be able to make a deal with him for the continuation of this ridiculous matchmaking.

But unlike my expectations, he even gave the answer to all of you meeting later tonight along with the meeting that will be held by our two families.

It seems that it is inevitable anymore. My age who has been the head of three is indeed the reason for my parents to get married soon. But how to give understanding to them that I can find my own future wife later without having to obey an absurd matchmaking idea.

I'm still stuck in this pretty crowded cafe. Forgetting the disappearing sun changes with dusk.

Mama called me to follow them to Jean's house. My thoughts are chaotic, should I obey them to come there or stay here just looking for an excuse in the hope that the matchmaking fails.

Sally:

"Country's coming fast, or mama's gonna drag you to that cafe."

A message from my mother, attach a photo from behind the glass of this cafe. Damn, my mom is one step ahead of me. The proof is that I can no longer make excuses this time unless I just obey his orders.

I quickly walked out of the cafe to drive a car to a house that had been given instructions through a digital map.